With the exception of a few works on multifractal modeling of rainfall
[1]}, the use of large deviation theory
to study climate extremes has not been considered until very recently.
In [2]} we used a rare event algorithm developed
for the computation of Donsker-Varadhan type large deviation functions,
and applied it to study rare heat waves, although for durations shorter
than what necessary to be in the large deviation limit. [3]}
recently performed a comparison of extreme value theory and large
deviation theory based approaches to study time and space averages
of climatic observables in an idealized general circulation model.
Considering the increasing interest in time persistent climate extremes, it is of interest to explore
more in depth the applicability of large deviation theory to study
rare fluctuations of time averages of climatic observables, and to
discuss the methodological challenges one faces to perform this type
of analysis.
